Device for steam cleaning and de-icing the lower portions of automobiles



W 39, 1%? A. J- BRAUNGER 3,321,793

DEVICE FOR STEAM CLEANING AND DE'ICING THE LQW PORTIONS OF AUTOMOBILES Filed March 19, 1965 United States Patent 3,321,793 DEVICE FOR STEAM CLEANING AND DE-ICING THE LOWER PORTIONS OF AUTOMOBILES Anthony J. Braunger, 406 26th St., Sioux City, Iowa, 51104 Filed Mar. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 441,221 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-302) My invention relates to a de-icing arrangement especially for automobiles.

An object of my invention is to provide a de-icing and cleaning device which will automatically provide for the ejection of hot steam against the lower automobile portions, and to thereby melt the ice which has formed thereon, and also to remove the salt which will adhere to the automobile lower portions when said salt is used for melting ice on roadways, etc.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of this type which can be used on automobiles of varying sizes.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which is simple in construction, and which is not cumbersome or unduly large.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of my device,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail of the valve structure,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the steam emititng nozzles,

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged detail of a further nozzle,

FIGURE 5 is a generally cross sectional view of FIG- URE 1 taken along the lines 5-5 thereof, and

FIGURE 6 is a general view of a portion of the steam circuit.

My invention contemplates the provision of an arrangement wherein the automobile driver can drive over the same, the arrangement being of a small enough size so as not to occupy too much room in a service station or the like, and wherein hot steam will be ejected or forced against the lower portions of the vehicle and to thereby melt off the ice, snow, salt, etc. which will be suitably drained through the arrangement.

In describing my device I have used the character 10 to indicate generally a pair of laterally spaced grilles made of fairly heavy bars 11, thereby leaving a multiplicity of open spaces, these grilles being suitably received within the marginal portions 12 of the cavities 13 which cavities are provided within the cement 14, and I have further used the character 15 to indicate a pair of vertical bafile plates suitably secured as at 16.

The character 17 indicates a feed line which is suitably connected to a source of steam pressure, which line 17 communicates as at 18 to a valve structure or housing 19, and received within the housing 19 is the valve member 20 having a circular port 21 which communicates with a further pipe section 22. The character 23 indicates a plunger attached to the plat 24 having the inclined sides 25, and the character 26 indicates a helical compression spring which bears against the washer 27 which is attached to the plunger 23.

The pipe section 22 communicates to the pipe 27 which "ice connects to the further outer pipes 28 and also to the inner pipes 29, and attached to the pipes 28 are the vertical tubes 30 which terminate in the nozzles 31 which nozzles are adapted to force the steam centrally and to one side angularly and upwardly.

Attached to the inner pipes 29 are the further vertical tubes 32 which are attached to the nozzles 33 which allow the steam to be ejected centrally and to both sides as shown in FIGURE 4.

The cavities 13 include suitable sumps and can be inclined suitably to allow for drainage to any connecting sewer and the like.

The device operates in the following manner. When it is desired to remove the ice, snow and salt from the lower portions of the vehicle, and which salt must be removed before the eroding action takes place, the driver of the automobile will merely drive over the grilles 10, whereupon the right hand forward wheel of the automobile will rest upon the plate 24, and the plate will be forced downwardly thereby causing the port 20 to communicate with the steam circuit, and the steam will then be ejected out of the nozzles 31 and 33.

The dotted lines 34 in FIGURE 5 illustrate the enclosing portions which enclose the wheels 35, the dotted lines character 36 indicating the lower central portions of the automobile, and it will be noted that the steam ejected from the nozzles 31 will be directed angularly upwardly against the portions 34, and the inner nozzles 33 will be directed against the central portions of the automobile as well as the other wheel enclosing portions, so that as a result theice, snow, etc. will be melted and will fall through the grilles 10 and will be suitably drained. The baflie plates 15 provide an important function in that they will have the tendency of concentrating the temporary heat eifects generated by the steam. As soon as the operator hears the steam being ejected, he will know that he is on the plate 24, and after the necessary interval he can then drive ahead, with the lower portions of the automobile being completely cleaned.

It will now be noted that I have provided the various advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changse may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A device for steam cleaning and de-icing the lower portions of automobiles comprising a horizontally positioned grille structure adapted to receive an automobile thereon, a plurality of steam jets positioned beneath said grille structure for ejecting steam onto the lower portions of said automobile, steam pipes communicating to said jets, a valve member for releasing steam to said jets, a plate positioned above said grille structure and attached to said valve member for releasing said steam to said jets when the weight of a portion of an automobile rests upon said plate, certain of said jets being positioned outwardly, and being adapted to provide steam jets passing angularly upwardly and inwardly, a further plurality of jets being positioned inwardly and being further adapted to impinge upon certain lower portions of said automobile.

(References on following page) 3 4 References Cited 3,017,122 1/ 196 2 Malsbary 134-45 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,024,795 3/ 1962 Roller et a1 134-123 X 3/ 1924 Hohl v 15-302 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1927 Sx nith 134 5 509,564 7/1939 Great Britain. 5; 55333?;; f; 5 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 2/1958 Crivelli 13445 X R. L. BLEUTGE, Assistwnt Examiner. 

